Method of manufacturing wrought nonferrous pipe fittings



April 20, 1937. E. s. CORNELL. JR 2,073,195

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WROUGHT NONF'ERROUS PIPE FITTINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill! ill?

INVENTOR Edward 5. Come! l ,Jr:

April 20, 1937. 2,978,195

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WROUGHT NONFERROUS PIPE FITTINGS E. S. CORNELL. JR

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1934 52 I INVENTOR Edward S.COVYIH,JYI

ms 4 ORNEY April 1937- E. 's. CORNELL. JR 2,078,195

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WROUGHT NONFERROUS PIPE FITTINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR wdrd Scar elLJY. Y 45 H TTORNEY I April 1937. E. s. CORNELL. JR 2,078,195

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WROUGHT NONFERROUS PIPE FITTINGS Filed Dec. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 j i .7 as 5 ll/l/ll/l/IllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIlIl/IIIIIIIIIIIIII XNVENTOR Edward SCornelLJr.

- M H TTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES amass ue'rnon or MANUIA homo/ops CTUBIN G WBOUGH'I m FITTINGS Edward. 8. Cornell, Jr., Lsrchmont, N. 12, assignor to American Radiator Company, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 1. 1934. Serial No. 155,507

Claiml.

My present invention relates to pipe fittings. and more particularly to an improved method oi manufacturing pipe fittings, such as elbows. from wrought non-ferrous metal having a body wall 6 thickness insufficient to bear threads, and in which the resulting pipe fitting may be provided with threaded ends.

In my copending applicatiomserial 150,644 filed October 30, 1934, entitled Elbow and kindred pipe fittings, I have described and claimed one form of the improved product resulting from practising the improved method of my present invention.

Pursuant to my present invention I have overcome the defects 0! fittings produced by prior methods of manufacture by costly forging and am enabled to manufacture a pipe fitting, such as an elbow or the like, out of wrought, non-ferrous metal, such as copper; having a body wall thickgoness insufiicient to bear threads, and having thickened ends which not only safely bear threads. but which have a safe wall thickness substantially equal to, and if desired exceeding, the wall thickness of the remainder of the fitting.

An object of my invention therefore is an imprgged method of making pip fittings, such as el ws.

The problem of producing a fitting according to my present invention is complicated because of the fact that -a number of types of ends are required to suit varying conditions met with in practice. For examplega fitting, such as an elbow, may be desired, having on one end male threads.v and the other devoid of threads and smooth for 5 engagement with eitherthe interior or exterior an end of a pipe or other fitting.

There may be desired a fitting such as an elbow,

having at one end internal threads adapted to be engaged by the external threads of an end of a pipe or fitting, and the other end being devoid of threads and smooth and adapted to'be engaged by and make a sweat joint connection with either the interior or exterior face of an end of pipe or other fitting.

There maybe desired an elbow in which both ends are provided with exterior threads.

There may be desired a pipe both ends are provided with interior threads; or There may be desired a pipe fitting, such as an elbow, in which one end is provided with exterior threads and the other end provided with interior The above are the illustrative examples of pipe fittings 0! this character, specifically elbows, and

fitting in which which come within the range of my present invention.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of my invention applicable to fittings exemplify various steps of my method according to my present invention;

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an elbow provided with exterior threads at one end, and with a smooth portion at the other end.

Pig. 2 is a sectional elevation of an elbow provided with interior threads at one end, and with a smooth portion at the other end.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of an elbow provided with exterior threads on each end.

Pig. 4 is a sectional elevation of an elbow provided with interior threads on each end.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partially in section, of an elbow having exterior threads at one end and interior threads at the other end.

Pig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a length of tubing from which the various forms of elbow shown in Figs. 1 to 5 may be produced.

Fig. '1 is a sectional elevation through a die and plunger showing the first step in the method :of thickening one end of the tube shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section, similar to a portion of Fig. l, and illustrating the position of the parts after the end thickening operation has been performed.

Fig. 9 is a section of a die and punch showing the step of thickeningone'end of the tube shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a section of the tube shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the tube illustrated in Fig. 6 at a stage succeeding the step of thickening the ends thereof according to the operation of the devices shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the tube shown in Fig. 11, at a stage succeeding the step of moving the thickened end on the outside of the tube shown in Fig. 11, into the inside of the tube, and preparatory to bending the tube into angular form to form an elbow.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of an elbow formed from a tube, such as the tube shown in Fig. 6, at a stage succeeding the thickening of the end according to the construction shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of an elbow made from the tubular construction shown in Fig. 12.

. Fig, 15 is a sectional elevation of the elbow shown in Fig. 13, after the thickened end portion thereof has been expanded to a position on the outside of the elbow, and after the unthickened end thereof has been expanded to form a smooth portion for the reception of a tube or other fitting.

- with aperioration equal to the outer diameter of the tube ID. ,The' thickness of the collar i5 is slightly greater than thickening the normal-tube end of the tube shown in Fig. 10. g i

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. '17 and showing the operation initiated in Fig. 17, completed.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a section of an arcuate die and with an interiorly thickened end tubev such as shown in Fig. 12 in 'position'therein preparatory to being bent into arcuate form; and

Fig.20 is a view similar to Fig. 19, but showing the position of the tubular member after being moved into position to complete the bend therein.

Referring to the drawings, see Fig. 6, I..preferably utilize a length of tube ill of any'suitable diameter and length, and ordinarily having a wall thickness insuillcient to bear threads thereon or therein, the tube l0 being preferably of wrought, homogeneous, non-ferrous metal such as copper. As a first step in the manufacture of an elbow from the length of tube I 0, to be provided at one or both ends I place such length of tubelfl in a cavity in a die block ii, see Fig. Lone end of the tube extending upward beyond the upper limit of 'su'ch die block it. I then insert into the interior of such tube id a mandrel having a body III, a reduced upper end l3, and an enlarged lowerend or head me length of the body portion i: or the mandrel is substantially equal to the height of the die block i i and the length of the reduced portion II is longer than the portion of the tube. I 0 which extends upward beyond the upper face of the die block ii. Resting on the upper face 01' the die block it is acollar i5, this collar being provided is of a diameter substantially the length of the end of the tube It which extendsabove the upper face of the die block "IL; A hollow punch i1 having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the tube III a or the diameter of. the hole 16 inthe collar I 5, and an internal diameter but slightly greater than; the external diameter of the reduced portion II of the'mandrel is carried by the ram (not shown) are suitable punch press or equivalent.

The die block ii, collar l5. and mandrel are placed in the positionshown in Fig; '7, in such punchpress mequivalent machine, and the plunger i! is forced downwardly into the annuiar space between the walls of the hole ii of the collar and the reduced end the homogeneous, non-ferrous, metal of the treated end of the tube i6, and when the plunger I! reaches its lowermost Position as shown in Fig. 8, there is produced on the treated end of the tube i0 and on the interior thereof a thickened wall end ltsee Fig. 8. During this operation that portion of the tube ID in the die block II and in 52 of the mandrel will.-

engagement with the body be protected against deformation. V V

The resultant construction is therefore a tube of which one end is thickened and in which the tube thrmighout the remainder of its entire length, 1. e., its body portion, is maintained of relatively constant diameter. Such tube is adapted for use pursuant to my invention in the production of an elbow of thereof with threads,

iii of the mandrel. Under pressure there is produced a cold flow oi the type shown'in Figs. 1 1

The product, resulting from such elbow forming process as indicated in Fig. 13. comprises a thickened end l8 having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the tube II, and its .other and smooth, and that the body of the elbow is of constant diameter throughout its length. 'I'heconstruction shown in Fig, 13 is now placed in a holding device, and a punch or mandrel or other suitable device is forcibly inserted into the thickened end ll of the elbow to expand such thickened end in diameter and thus transfer the thickened portion from the inside of the end of the tube portion III to the 'outside thereof. Such expanding operation is continued until the inner diameter of the displaced thickened portion II is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the body of the tube III as shown in. Fig. 15.

There is then formed on the thickened end II the external threads Ilto derive the fitting illustratedin Fig. 1.

If it is desired to have internal threads on such thickened end of .the elbow, such thickened end is isexpanded to a greater degree than is indicated in Fig. .15, and internal threads "are cut on the interiorv thereof, resulting in the elbow illustrated in F18. 2. The degree of. expansion is such that when a pipe or other pipe fitting is screwed into the internal threads II, the internal diameter of the pipe (not shown), or other pipe fitting, is substantially equal to the internal diam.- eter of the body of the elbow.

Afterthe-operatlon on such thickened end ll of the elbow as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 13, the other end if desired may be expanded as indicated by the reference numeral 2| in Figs. 1 and 2, and which end Il may be smooth. to afford a sweat joint connection with the end of a pipe or pipe fitting.

Where it is desired to have an internal or ex- 7 ternal thread on one or both ends of the elbow,

the tube It mayiirst be subjected to an operation 22 having an inner diameter of the body of the tube l0, and an outer diameter exceeding the body of the tube, as indicated in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. 9, there is shown the die block 3|, similar to the die block il in Fig. '1, provided with a cavity for receiving the length of the tube l0. Associated with the extending through the tube II, is a mandrel 32, the diameter of which is uniform throughout and but slightly less than the innerdiameter of the tube '10. "Associated with the mandrel 32 and z the die block 3 l is a collar 33, having a hole therethrough but slightly greater than the desired outer diameter of the thickened end 22' to be produced on thetreated end of the tube I 0. As-

sociated with the mandrel l2 and collar 38 is a hollow punch 34, which,moving downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 9, causes a cold flow of the material of the treated end of the tube ll, into the form designated by the reference numeral 22.-

The structure resulting from the above sequence of operations is'shown .in Fig. 10. wherein the thickened end 22 is. of a larger diameter than the die block 3|, and

s,o7a,1os

' outer diameter of the body of such'tube II. he

structure shown in Fig. 10 is then placed in a die block having a recess 30 in the bottom thereof sufficient to house the enlargement 22 after which the mandrel comprising the body portion i2, reduced end I! and enlarged bottom or head portion I4 is placedin the position shown in Fig. 17. The collar I5 is placed in position about the upper protruding end of the tube Ill and concen-' trio with the reduced portion II of the mandrel. The plunger I1 is then moved from the position shown in Fig. 17 to the position shown in mg. 18 producing thereby the thickened end I8 on the upper end of the tube 10, the outer diameter of which thickened end is substantially equal to the outer diametenof the now intermediate portion of the tube Ill. There results from the plurality of operations just described, the structure shown in Fig. 11, which figure shows the thickened end It of an outer diameter substantially equal to the inter mediate portion i. e., body of the tube l0 and on the other end the thickened end 22 of a greater outside diameter than the outer diameter of the intermediate portion i. e., body of the tube "I.

Also, the intermediate 1. e., body portion has a wall thickness insufilcient to bear threads. The structure shown in Fig. 11 is then placed on a mandrel having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the thickened end I8 and the assembly is then forced through the perforation or hole in a die block (not shown) similar to the die block ll of Figs. '7 and 8, pro- Patent No. 2,002,470. The operation just referred to is more clearly shown in Figures 19 and 20 where 31 designates a die block provided with the arcuate passage 88 therein. The die block 3'! constitutes one-half of the entire die block structure, the other half of the structure having been removed to better illustrate the construction of the arcuate passage 38 therein. The structure such as is shown in Fig. 12 is then placed in one arm of the arcuate passage 28 as shown in Fig. 19 and the other half (not showm/of the die block structure is placed on the member 31 and the two-.edges secured together by means of the bolts 40. A punch 4| having its lower end 42 of reduced diameter sumcient to be a sliding fit on the end I8 is moved downwardly, forcing the tube in with the interiorly enlarged ends II and 22 and as shown in Fig. 12 into the position illustrated in Fig. 20. There results therefrom the structure shown in Fig. 14 which, as will be noted, is an elbow whereof the thickness of its body portion I0 is insufilcient to bear threads and the thickened ends I! and 22 have an outer than the inner diameter of the body portion of the elbow, namely, the structure shown in Fig. 3, where the expanded thickened ends ll and 22 have been threaded to provide the external threads 23 and 24 respectively cut m Should it bev desired to cut internal threads on both of such thickened ends I! and 22 such thickened ends are further expanded and the internal threads 25 and 2' are then cut on the interior of the expanded'thickened ends I8 and 22 respectively, resulting in a construction such as is shown in Fig. 4.

To produce the type of elbow shown in Fig. 5, one of the thickened ends, say the end II, is expanded sumciently to allow the external threads 23 to be cut thereon as shown in Figs. 3

and 5, and the thickened end 22 is expanded to a greater extent to allow the internal threads 28 to be cut thereon, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

As appears from the above, the various embodimentsof my fittings provide for thickening at one or both ends and threads at such thickened end or ends of any fitting, the diameter of the outer and inner faces of each end of any particular fitting may be selected for connection with an end of a pipe or other pipe fitting to provide for unobstructed flow of-fiuid when the fitting is assembled with apipe or fitting.

There results from my improved method, a pipe fitting, such as an elbow, of wrought, homogeneous, preferably nonferrous metal, such as copper, in which the main or body portion thereof has a wall thickness insufiicient to bear threads, and in which the thickened ends thereof are of sufficient thickness to bear either internal or external threads, and have sufllclent metal between the bottoms of the threads and the internal or external diameters thereof respectively, to be substantially equal to the wall thickness of thd main or body portion.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be un-' derstood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

, I claim:

1. That improved method of manufacturing pipe fittings such as elbows from integral wrought, homogeneous, non-ferrous metal, which comprises utilizing a length of tube of a wall thickness insufilcient to bear threads, thickening one end thereof, the external diameter of the thickened end being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube, bending the length of tubing. including the thickened end, by forcing the tube through an arcuate die to form an elbow, expanding the thickened end to increase its internal diameter of the tube and cutting threads thereon.

2. That improved method of manufacturing pipe fittings such as elbows from integral wrought, homogeneous, non-ferrous metal which comprises utilizing a length of tube of a wall thickness insumcient to bear threads, thickening one end internal diameter of the tube, and cutting threads therein.

v 3. That improved method of manufacturing an elbow from integral wrought, homogeneous, nonferrous metal which comprises utilizing a tube of a desired length and having a wall thickness insuflicient to bear threads, forming at one end a thickened portion from the material of the tube and of an outer diameter greater than the outer eter of the tube, forming on the opposite elbow from integral wrought, homogeneous, nonferrous metal which comprises utilizing a tube of a desired length and having a wall thickness insuflicient to bear threads, forming at one end a thickened portion from the material of the tube and-of an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the tube, forming on' the opposite end a thickened portion having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the tube while supporting the tube internally by a mandrel, 're-' forming the first said thickened end to reduce its outer diameter to an outer diameter substantially equal to the outerqdiameter of thetube by supporting the tube internally by a mandrel, bending the resulting structure into elbow form by forcing the same through an arcuate die, and then subjecting the thickened ends to an expanding operation and cutting threads on the inner diameters thereof.

5. jihat improved method of manufacturing an elbow from integral wrought, homogeneous, nonferrous metal which comprises utilizing a tube of a desired length and having a wall thickness insumcient to bear threads, forming at one end a thickened portion from the material of the tube and ofv an outer diameter greater than the outer diameterof the .tube, forming on the opposite end a thickened portion having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the tube by supporting the tube internally by a mandrel, reforming the first said thickened end to reduce its outer diameter to an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube while supporting the tube internally by a mandrel, bending the resulting structure into elbow form by forcing the same through an arcuate die, subjecting the thickened ends to an expanding operation, and cutting threads on the external diameter of one of such thickened ends and a thread on the internal diameter of the opposite end.

i EDWARD S. CORNELL, Jr. 

